Ole brother Nehemiah!
Now that feller sits somewhere near the top of my human hope chain.
He, project manager for building of the second Jerusalem wall, allowed a seed of the Heavenly Father’s given hope to blossom out of his life, sending forth the fragrance to energize a people to discover “a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 4:6)
The Hebrew captive, cup bearer to King Artaxerxes, evidently welcomed the God of Israel to infect his own mind, even beginning with the sad news of the broken walls of his beloved Jerusalem. I hear the rattling of his gray matter as this bold and respected man of the Persian court rode mile after mile wondering and awaiting, envisioning and daring to plan his own response upon arrival in David’s city. Hope, at that point, really lay in the long yet beyond of Nehemiah. He would hope, but not yet. The reality news, the bold risk request of the King, and the long hard trip had to be traveled to precede the coming of his own hope. Yet he chose not to abandon his own pursuit of hope.
Once inside the city, he traveled beyond his own gained and apparent surface reality to experience the metropolitan brokenness beyond anyone else’s grasp and see only for himself the devastation and magnitude of the tragedy.
Nehemiah’s solitary nighttime dangerous donkey ride connected him to the depth of the seemingly impossible task. He, inside Jerusalem, seeing, touching, smelling, listening, even tasting the rotten, rusting, sickening lost grandeur now a garbage ruin, exposed his emotions to receive horrors beyond his own fears. Only now God seemed to open hope, and the award went to the first person to accept the real Jerusalem in ruins. Hope rises up in Nehemiah only after his own personal experience of the reality of the present city. He now knew his role in a new calling.
God’s gift of hope comes in response to personal reality check and acceptance. In the midst of these loss times, dare you, I, or anyone expect to be given His hope to bypass or precede our authentic embracing of the situation, even at the prize of displacing fantasy for real pain?
In essence, on your way to hope, allow the Heavenly Father to immerse you totally within your own reality.
The current times as is must become the times as is for you.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Hard Time Hope from Biblical Folk - Abraham
Abraham, now there’s quite a fellow. He’s even listed in the hall of faithful in Hebrews. But he also pulled one of the dumbest stunts of all the personalities in Scripture.
Hard times! He had to prepare for a famine (nutritional depression). So gathering up his family, he lights out for Egypt and food.
Sometime, somewhere near Egypt, Abraham hatched a plot to protect himself at the possible disgrace of Sarah, his wife. “Honey, I’m real uptight about this Pharaoh fellow. I have a plan. When we meet him, you play like my sister—not my beloved wife.” Maybe Abraham went as far as declaring, “This charade provides for the best of all of us.” Phooey! Somehow, Pharaoh discovered the deceit. He was mad—big mad all over. Apparently, the Egyptian ruler’s morals embarrassed Abraham, and the Hebrew patriarch and family quickly exited Egypt upon the insistence of Pharaoh.
Hard times will test Christian morals. These days, months, maybe years of restrictions go totally against the grain of our lifestyle of available commodities and money to purchase needed items, and especially, wanted items.
Nobody can claim exemption from temptation. We are and will be living in a season as never before, and temptation can set off anyone toward theft, lying, and deceit. To paraphrase the Man in Black, “keep a close watch” on those morals. Heavenly Father expects of each of us a pure heart all the way through.
Hard times! He had to prepare for a famine (nutritional depression). So gathering up his family, he lights out for Egypt and food.
Sometime, somewhere near Egypt, Abraham hatched a plot to protect himself at the possible disgrace of Sarah, his wife. “Honey, I’m real uptight about this Pharaoh fellow. I have a plan. When we meet him, you play like my sister—not my beloved wife.” Maybe Abraham went as far as declaring, “This charade provides for the best of all of us.” Phooey! Somehow, Pharaoh discovered the deceit. He was mad—big mad all over. Apparently, the Egyptian ruler’s morals embarrassed Abraham, and the Hebrew patriarch and family quickly exited Egypt upon the insistence of Pharaoh.
Hard times will test Christian morals. These days, months, maybe years of restrictions go totally against the grain of our lifestyle of available commodities and money to purchase needed items, and especially, wanted items.
Nobody can claim exemption from temptation. We are and will be living in a season as never before, and temptation can set off anyone toward theft, lying, and deceit. To paraphrase the Man in Black, “keep a close watch” on those morals. Heavenly Father expects of each of us a pure heart all the way through.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Hard Time Hope from Biblical Folk - Naomi and Ruth
Ruth and her sister Orpah, Moabite ladies, married the two sons of Naomi, a widow from Judah. Naomi’s family, fleeing famine and conditions wherein “every man did what was right in his own eyes,” had arrived in Moab hoping their less-than-friendly neighbors would welcome them. Naomi’s husband died, and her sons (husbands to Ruth and Orpah) also died.
Now Naomi awaited a harsh lifestyle as an ignored and possibly manipulated woman destined to a life of poverty. Planning to return to Judah and hoping for the help of a relative to face her fate, Emlimech’s widow encouraged both daughters-in-law to remain in their native land, a consciously selfless and gracious gesture. Ruth, through an attitude combining resistance to Naomi’s urge with genuine human unconditional compassion, vowed to stay with her mother-in-law until death. Scripture records, “When she [Naomi] saw that she [Ruth] was determined to go with her, she [Naomi] said no more to her” [Ruth].
Resolution, so simple, so direct, so beautiful, and hope in the person of Ruth and her loving presence rose up in the heart of Naomi.
The rest of the story narrates the Father’s bounty of love and provision, both to Ruth and Naomi. They came through hard times by the grace of God and the willingness of one person, Ruth, to declare and keep “until whenever” compassion to her friend. Just being alongside another person on the way through an economic disruption may be enough. The Holy Spirit who comes alongside us always is enough.
Monday, March 23, 2009
There’s a Seepression in the Wind
O.K. So economic RECESSION and/or financial DEPRESSION poses a political, economical and/or cultural offensive label. How about SEEPRESSION?
Absolutely! We’ll all SEE the advancing threatening economic stampede if by courage we are willing to look!
Reality check moment, ponder the question, “Who will SEE THROUGH the “interruption?” Will the want satisfying by credit card climate folk take a look? Or, will the phenomena be left to the perspective of an advancing desperation for survival battle for the masses currently locked in a harm’s way struggle to pay to eat, purchase a prescription, gas up to drive to work, or mail a mortgage payment on time?
Personally, I did not experience The Great Depression of 1929. Born in 1941, I grew up within the grace of parents who made their way through and gave me their hard earned values. So, as a first generation post-depression child and adolescent, the timeframe 1941-1959 and the accompanying restricted lifestyle allows me some credentials of being at least one rail up on the fence to offer a personal perspective as together we traverse along and through this never expected trial.
Basically, each person’s reactions/response depends on personal perception and individual attitude. Adjustment is the name of the game, and each player’s best hope depends on keeping step with reality throughout the tournament.
Settling in for the Season
A certainty — seasons change and eventually end!
Meanwhile, chop the timeframe into one day at a time. Discover your American ingenuity, and attack the larger problem. For instance, less food, eat less and triumph over obesity. Remember American ingenuity learned in the 1930’s gave an edge to American servicemen during World War II. Meanwhile, connect kids to the sources. Savor the teaching time to surprise your youngsters—milk comes from cows rather than the cooler at Kroger. Further, this season may be preparation for an even more stressful era ahead.
Validate an Old Aborted Word—Need
Enter a store, grocery or otherwise, wander, muse, meditate, touch, examine products at various angles. This ambulatory selection process and the plethora of goods befuddles the brain. Behold eight brands, 24 varieties by style, comfort range, or scent of toilet tissue. The same avails be it laundry soap or spaghetti sauce. Confusion creeps in to compete with marketing and the conscious element of need surrenders to the yearning to satisfy want, and the cycle continues. A life only by need alone time looms ahead. Fair warning.
Honor Personal Limits
Go ahead. Adopt this double first cousin to need. Contrary to some economic planner huskers, credit will continue to play an essential role in finances in both families and corporate America. Sadly, apparently, only now in the limited availability and reduction of credit will many folk discover a harsh lesson—credit is not a license, and abuse of the privilege proves to be disastrous. My wife and I share one credit card with a mutually agreed upon limit. Each month we pay off all charges, having periodically reviewed the growing balance throughout the month. Such responsibility requires discipline, a trait to be learned, having no reserved spot in your gene pool. An even more threatening calamity may loom ahead for many people maxed out on credit cards who now have no recourse but to adjust to cash living and credit card interest payments.
Live on the Stuff Called Cash
Little pennies, round nickels, thin dimes, flat quarters, bulky half-dollars, and U.S. bills of various denomination possess buying power. Paying cash allows you to own your purchase. Ownership! At least second cousin to cleanliness which is next to Godliness. We just may be on the brink of an exciting season of ownership with only a warranty for paperwork. As an owner, you use your item, play with it, break it, even loan it. Who cares? It’s yours. In a cash climate you can learn to wait. So wait patiently, save up for a needy purchase, and expect real appreciation—a Dutch uncle to gratitude.
See Beyond Yourself
Okay, my personal parson side now kicks into the discussion. The current ongoing season of adjustment to the crisis points me directly to the reality I am His creation. Personal inalienable rights include caretaker of His creation. The assumptive-presumptive participation in enough and more for all and forever mindset has to go. We can no longer afford the popular American flaunting of plenty custom.
Our Tennessee Baptist churches must encounter the choice to be or not to be Christian as never before in our life time.
Sometime, out yonder, beyond the prevailing financial interruption folk will welcome better times with the question, “Who was there alongside with me through the era of hunger, lost job, loss of home, wonder for tomorrows, and sight of pain in the eyes of my family?” The local church that chose to come alongside in a Christ-like manner to aid these hurting folk will be the communities of faith that expand the meaning of salvation. This in no way means financial bailout by churches alone. While financial assistance can be of great help, I speak more of church folk offering encouragement, a new sense of fellowship and community, and a sense of camaraderie to work together through the era. If the church succumbs to a do it for you attitude, we lend our efforts toward either crippling or paralyzing folk with good self-respect who need to know they are not alone in their struggles. The Tennessee Baptist Convention One Servant Family staff hurt with our church folk and are seeking God’s guidance to use their energies to be alongside our churches as they minister in shepherding the local communities. While we together know not what we may do, may we be together open to seek to know what our Heavenly Father wills us to do as we bear one another’s burdens together.
Reviewing my own writing, I think my simple message is all about sensitivity to care enough to bear witness to my Father God who carries His people through, often in the strength and action of other persons. May God’s blessings, whatever He chooses them to be, be ours to know through this time.
Notes
G.A. Young, “God Leads Us Along” (Kansas City: Lillenas Publishing Co., 1931)
Absolutely! We’ll all SEE the advancing threatening economic stampede if by courage we are willing to look!
Reality check moment, ponder the question, “Who will SEE THROUGH the “interruption?” Will the want satisfying by credit card climate folk take a look? Or, will the phenomena be left to the perspective of an advancing desperation for survival battle for the masses currently locked in a harm’s way struggle to pay to eat, purchase a prescription, gas up to drive to work, or mail a mortgage payment on time?
Personally, I did not experience The Great Depression of 1929. Born in 1941, I grew up within the grace of parents who made their way through and gave me their hard earned values. So, as a first generation post-depression child and adolescent, the timeframe 1941-1959 and the accompanying restricted lifestyle allows me some credentials of being at least one rail up on the fence to offer a personal perspective as together we traverse along and through this never expected trial.
Basically, each person’s reactions/response depends on personal perception and individual attitude. Adjustment is the name of the game, and each player’s best hope depends on keeping step with reality throughout the tournament.
Settling in for the Season
A certainty — seasons change and eventually end!
Meanwhile, chop the timeframe into one day at a time. Discover your American ingenuity, and attack the larger problem. For instance, less food, eat less and triumph over obesity. Remember American ingenuity learned in the 1930’s gave an edge to American servicemen during World War II. Meanwhile, connect kids to the sources. Savor the teaching time to surprise your youngsters—milk comes from cows rather than the cooler at Kroger. Further, this season may be preparation for an even more stressful era ahead.
Validate an Old Aborted Word—Need
Enter a store, grocery or otherwise, wander, muse, meditate, touch, examine products at various angles. This ambulatory selection process and the plethora of goods befuddles the brain. Behold eight brands, 24 varieties by style, comfort range, or scent of toilet tissue. The same avails be it laundry soap or spaghetti sauce. Confusion creeps in to compete with marketing and the conscious element of need surrenders to the yearning to satisfy want, and the cycle continues. A life only by need alone time looms ahead. Fair warning.
Honor Personal Limits
Go ahead. Adopt this double first cousin to need. Contrary to some economic planner huskers, credit will continue to play an essential role in finances in both families and corporate America. Sadly, apparently, only now in the limited availability and reduction of credit will many folk discover a harsh lesson—credit is not a license, and abuse of the privilege proves to be disastrous. My wife and I share one credit card with a mutually agreed upon limit. Each month we pay off all charges, having periodically reviewed the growing balance throughout the month. Such responsibility requires discipline, a trait to be learned, having no reserved spot in your gene pool. An even more threatening calamity may loom ahead for many people maxed out on credit cards who now have no recourse but to adjust to cash living and credit card interest payments.
Live on the Stuff Called Cash
Little pennies, round nickels, thin dimes, flat quarters, bulky half-dollars, and U.S. bills of various denomination possess buying power. Paying cash allows you to own your purchase. Ownership! At least second cousin to cleanliness which is next to Godliness. We just may be on the brink of an exciting season of ownership with only a warranty for paperwork. As an owner, you use your item, play with it, break it, even loan it. Who cares? It’s yours. In a cash climate you can learn to wait. So wait patiently, save up for a needy purchase, and expect real appreciation—a Dutch uncle to gratitude.
See Beyond Yourself
Okay, my personal parson side now kicks into the discussion. The current ongoing season of adjustment to the crisis points me directly to the reality I am His creation. Personal inalienable rights include caretaker of His creation. The assumptive-presumptive participation in enough and more for all and forever mindset has to go. We can no longer afford the popular American flaunting of plenty custom.
Our Tennessee Baptist churches must encounter the choice to be or not to be Christian as never before in our life time.
Sometime, out yonder, beyond the prevailing financial interruption folk will welcome better times with the question, “Who was there alongside with me through the era of hunger, lost job, loss of home, wonder for tomorrows, and sight of pain in the eyes of my family?” The local church that chose to come alongside in a Christ-like manner to aid these hurting folk will be the communities of faith that expand the meaning of salvation. This in no way means financial bailout by churches alone. While financial assistance can be of great help, I speak more of church folk offering encouragement, a new sense of fellowship and community, and a sense of camaraderie to work together through the era. If the church succumbs to a do it for you attitude, we lend our efforts toward either crippling or paralyzing folk with good self-respect who need to know they are not alone in their struggles. The Tennessee Baptist Convention One Servant Family staff hurt with our church folk and are seeking God’s guidance to use their energies to be alongside our churches as they minister in shepherding the local communities. While we together know not what we may do, may we be together open to seek to know what our Heavenly Father wills us to do as we bear one another’s burdens together.
Reviewing my own writing, I think my simple message is all about sensitivity to care enough to bear witness to my Father God who carries His people through, often in the strength and action of other persons. May God’s blessings, whatever He chooses them to be, be ours to know through this time.
“Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley in the darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.
Some thro’ the waters, some thro’ the flood,
Some thro’ the fire, but all thro’ the Blood;
Some thro’ great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.”
Notes
G.A. Young, “God Leads Us Along” (Kansas City: Lillenas Publishing Co., 1931)
Friday, March 20, 2009
Church Budget Adjustment Reflections
- Holy Spirit led planning for efficiency in the use of tithes and offerings through budget adjustments honors Biblical stewardship.
- Allow your process and intent to involve the total church family, especially in the final decision. Giving follows commitment; understanding nurtures commitment.
- Maintain vigilance to guard against the precedent-setting temptation to focus on institutional survival over God’s future for the church’s ministry.
- Maintain throughout the process the awareness that your action will communicate the vision, faith, and intention of the church family to honor the Kingdom of God.
- Resolve to seek patience through prayer to prevent hasty decisions from jeopardizing long-term ministry.
- Recognize the local church’s staff ministers in a covenant relationship to the body of Christ. Consideration of adjustments in staff support deserve recognition that the church’s responsibility is to keep trust with its chosen leaders.
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